NO FARMER FRIENDS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 51, 29 August 1934, Page 11

NO FARMER FRIENDS

KEAS CAUSE DAMAGE

TOO MANY DEER ALSO

The kea has no friends among the executive of the New Zealand Sheep Owners' and Farmers' Federation, for the annual report states that reports are to hand from the high country that damage done by keas is on the increase, owing to the withdrawal, of the subsidy for kea destruction previously given by local authorities and the Government. Representations have been made with a.view to the restoration of tho Government subsidy, but so far without result.

The executive will, however, continue its efforts in this direction, and having in mind the detrimental effect on the value of Crown lands for grazing purposes, due to tho depredations of. the keas, feels it is reasonable to ask for some assistance from the Government to reduce this cause of loss to Crown tenants. .

Several members have-written drawing attention to tho increase in the numbers of thar and chamois, and urging that evory. effort be made to reduce the- number of these animals to a minimum, the report adds. While tho difficulty, of dealing adequately with this pest is recognised by the commit-tee,-tho large numbers in the herds seen on the.high country is a clear indication of t,ho necessity for continued vigilanco in this connection. Up to 250 havo been counted in single mobs ,in close proximity to some of the high country homesteads. .-' '